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Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts

Monday, November 25, 2019

Total builds on Brulpadda success, heralds new era for South Africa - NaijaAgroNet

One of the most important discoveries of the year took place 175km off the southern coast of South Africa where Total has made a gas condensate discovery on the Brulpadda prospects, located on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The exploration well encountered 57 metres of net gas condensate play in Lower Cretaceous reservoirs. Following the success of the main objective, the well was deepened to a final depth of 3,633 metres and has also been successful in the Brulpadda-deep prospect.

Speaking at Africa Oil Week last week (Africa-OilWeek.com), Dr Enzo Insalaco, Vice President Exploration Africa at Total explained that South Africa has become an interesting area for exploration. “When you look at the fundamentals, you can see a scenario where there are a number of significant, relatively underexplored basins and many of the play fundamentals are present in these places,” he said. “We see that there's a lot of scope for exploration and significant potential.”

That interest has been illustrated by the recent activity by the industry, which has seen a significant amount of seismic capture and blocks being taken in Namibia and South Africa. “Much of that activity is early-stage, so 2D or 3D,” Insalaco added. “What we will see in the next few years is an uptick in reservoir drilling and exploration. We have a strong position in the oil basin, so we have a couple of blocks in the Orange Basin and in South Africa the 11B/12B block where this discovery was made.”

Opening a new petroleum basin:

For Total, Brulpadda was certainly a high impact well for opening up what they believe is a significant petroleum basin. “It was a very bold technical well,” Insalaco continued. “Many people may not realise that the well was actually drilled on 2D. It is a deep offshore well, so drilling on 2D was a very bold move. But given our understanding of the basin and the innovations we did on the operations, this well could be drilled safely and successfully on 2D.”

“As we know, it was an operational success just as much as a technical success; we drilled the well within budget, within time and in terms of NPT we have about 3% of NPT and 3% waiting on weather. If you consider the conditions, that is fantastic operational performance. We drilled the well to the main reservoir log and then we went down to a deeper reservoir.”

“We did extensive logging records, took samples of fluid, reservoir and source rock. It was a fantastic result in terms of operational performance and data acquisition. It is a gas and condensate and oil discovery, both traces were found. The reservoirs were well-developed with good fluid and reservoir properties. You could not really wish for more information from an exploration well. That data acquisition has really put us in a great position going forward to be able to accelerate the next level and the evaluation.”

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Monday, September 7, 2015

129 million hectares lost to deforestation



NaijaAgroNet
About 129 million hectares of forest, an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa, have been lost since 1990, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The world's forests continue to shrink as populations increase and forest land is converted to agriculture and other uses, but over the past 25 years the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 per cent, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) comprehensive forest report-- The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015-- published today, September7.

The FAO study covers 234 countries and territories and was presented at this week's World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, launching the report in Durban, said, "Forests play a fundamental role in combating rural poverty, ensuring food security and providing people with livelihoods. And they deliver vital environmental services such as clean air and water, the conservation of biodiversity and combating climate change,"

"The direction of change is positive, but we need to do better. We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development if we do not preserve our forests and sustainably use the many resources they offer us," he added.
Meanwhile, the net annual rate of forest loss has slowed from 0.18 per cent in the early 1990s to 0.08 per cent during the period 2010-2015, NaijaAgroNet learnt.

Africa and South America had the highest net annual loss of forests in 2010-2015, with 2.8 and 2 million hectares respectively, but the report notes how the rate of loss has "substantially decreased" from the previous five year period.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE
 
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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

South Africa output decline to affect Swaziland, others



NaijaAgroNet


South Africa, a regional food-basket has recorded a 31 per cent decline in output this year, a situation that is likely to cause a ripple effect across importers: Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho.

The current maize harvest in South Africa, NaijaAgroNet reports, is "the lowest yield since 2007," the country’s agriculture department said, adding that the country will have to import around 600,000 tonnes of maize to cover the deficit and meet its contractual export obligations. The prolonged dry spells in parts of the region have also reduced grazing land and feed for livestock, and are likely to push up the prices of red meat, milk, chickens and egg.

This was the background as leaders of 15 southern African countries gather for an annual summit from Monday to Tuesday as the region grapples with serious food shortages that have left a record number of people hungry. A toxic mix of erratic rains, abnormally high temperatures and floods have wreaked havoc on farming, writing off the bulk of this year’s crop.

As the region hungrily awaits the outcome of the meeting, NaijaAgroNet gathered, an estimated 27.4-million people out of the region’s combined population of 292-million — or nearly one in 10 people — would be depending on food handouts by the end of the year. Yields of the staple corn have shrunk by up to 90 per cent in some countries of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), a June report by the group said.

The World Food Programme (WFP) spokesman, David Orr said Zimbabwe and Malawi were facing their "worst food security crisis" in a decade. Zimbabwe, with a shortfall of 49 per cent, will need to import 700,000 tonnes of the staple corn to feed 1.5-million people.
In Malawi, NaijaAgroNet learnt, floods earlier this year ravaged fields, killing 176 people. Traditionally the third largest producer of maize in the region, this year it is being forced to import from neighbour Zambia. According to official estimates, up to 2.8-million Malawians will need food relief from year end when the food shortages peak.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Pix: David Orr

Friday, July 10, 2015

New farming methods sack workers in South Africa




The two new farming methods expected to revolutionize agriculture globally namely, Precision farming and Conservation, have succeeded in reducing jobs in South Africa’s agric sector, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Precision agriculture, experts say, taps into Global Positioning System (GPS) technology such thatfarmers could gather precise soil data to target exactly what inputs they need and where, while conservation involves trying to preserve South Africa’s erosion-prone soils.

Information reaching NaijaAgroNet said that samples are scooped from each hectare of a field, which is marked off into grids. The field map that emerges is colour-coded to denote exactly what needs to be applied in each square.

Analysts say this is at odds with policy proposals by the ruling African National Congress, which is seeking to limit farm size and create rural jobs. Technology, NaijaAgroNet gathered, is threatening to uproot such efforts.

South African farmer,Cobus van Coller, report said, usedthe technology to demonstrate “precision” farming for maximum profit. He scans the computer screen in the cab of his harvester. As the machine mows down corn stalks, numbers are updated on the screen, giving the precise moisture levels and yield in each section of his field. “This shows you if you’re going to make money,” he said in an interview with Reuters.

Van Coller also uses the technology for planting. “The GPS tells the computer where you are, and the computer tells the seeder which product to apply and how much.”

“We need to build up our soils again because they have been so degraded,” said Hendrik Smith of industry group GrainSouth Africa.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

South Africa: Agric leads in job creation






The data made public from South Africa indicated that the agricultural sector was the leading job creator in the first quarter of 2015, adding 150, 000 jobs, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Statistics South Africa in 2015 released the data showing an estimated 891 000 people employed in the sector. This NaijaAgroNet gathered, accounts for about 6% of South Africa’s total employment figures which is a significant achievement, considering the challenges within the sector, ranging from land policy to climatic conditions.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that South Africa leads the continent in the advancement of agricultural technology, particularly in crop production. This is being driven by climate change and growing variability that have increased the need for research and development.

Agricultural meetings are significantly about development and production, with an emphasis on technological advancement, to optimize productivity to meet yawning food demand and to improve the resilience of agriculture. Many research institutions equally are working with organized agriculture with focus on the sector’s potential to create jobs, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The National Development Plan (NDP) reports that agriculture has the potential to create close to one million new jobs by 2030, a significant contribution to the overall employment target.

To achieve this, NaijaAgroNet was informed, the NDP primarily focuses on improving production to achieve sustainability in smallholder and commercial farming, but the onus for labour training and education is placed mostly on farmers.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

WFP predicts food shortage in South Africa

 NaijaAgroNet

The World Food Programme (WFP) has predicted an acute food shortage in South Africa in a couple of months due to a severe drought in the 'maize belt' of South Africa, where a lack of rain had caused crop failure rates of over 50 per cent, NaijaAgroNet reports.

WFP’s Food and Nutrition Security Working Group’s April assessment states, "The rains experienced in late March and early April provided some relief to livestock farmers but arrived too late for both staple food and cash crops."

Last month's outbreak of anti-foreigner riots in South Africa, in which at least seven were killed and thousands more forced to flee, NaijaAgroNet gathered,  might also lead to a drop in remittance flows from Africa's most advanced economy, adding to the problems of nearby countries, the WFP said.

The WFP said maize production was estimated to have dropped by a third compared with last year, putting it on track for a harvest of 9.665 million tonnes, its worst in eight years,  

Besides South Africa, which produces more than 40 per cent of regional maize, NaijaAgroNet learnt, the drought was also likely to hit harvests in southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi and Madagascar, the U.N. agency said in a report.

The problems in landlocked and impoverished Malawi were compounded by heavy rains and flooding in early January which destroyed crops and roads, it added.

.Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE
 
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Monday, November 4, 2013

12m South African households may go hungry- President Zuma



The South African President Jacob Zuma   has said that some 12 million households in South Africa are vulnerable to food insecurity and may go hungry.

President  Zuma  made this disclosure  in his annual address to the National Council of Provinces in Soshanguve, Pretori, monitored by NaijaAgroNet and assured that in line with the country's the National Development Plan (NDP), the government will take a number of steps to improve food security.

“These steps include the expanded use of irrigation, security of land tenure, especially for women and youths, and the promotion of nutrition education,’’ Zuma said.

The NDP, which is the country’s economic blueprint, has set out various methods and targets to get rid of poverty, reduce unemployment and abolish inequality by 2030, while the government
launched the Fetsa Tlala food production programme to eradicate hunger and promote food security.

The government has also provided two billion rand (about N31 billion) for this financial year for farmer support programmes while 72 per cent of it will be used for food production to support Fetsa Tlala.

Under this arrangement, NaijaAgroNet  noted that about 100,000 hectares of land will be put into production through the programme to be supervised by the departments of agriculture in the provinces.

AN/EDop

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Pix:South African President Jacob Zuma

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

BioFISA records achievement against hunger


An initiative of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), BioFISA after four years of operation can now boost of some achievements in fighting hunger, curing diseases as well as livestock sustainability.
NEPAD revealed to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that BioFISA over the past four years has made effective progress in the areas of the control of HIV infection, livestock disease and development of plant genetic resources guidelines.
The Director of the NEPAD Southern African Network for Bioscience (SANBio), Prof Luke Mumba attributed the achievements to the use of biosciences at BioFISA's primary strategy and continued support from the governments of the Finland and South Africa.
According to Prof. Mumba, BioFISA has helped small-scale farmers in growing and preserving mushroom, developing fish farming and promoting indigenous knowledge systems and scientific validation of traditional remedies.
“Now that we have started making use of the treasure in Africa, there is an imperative need to now focus on preserving, protecting and responsibly sharing indigenous knowledge within African communities to build synergies,” Prof Mumba added.
Speaking about the achievements of BioFISA, a Senior Coordinator of NEPAD's CEO’s Office, Mr. Abdoul Salam Bello said the programmes has affected over 600 small-scale mushroom growers in Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland, while training more than 100 agriculture extension officers and researchers from Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia in mushroom farming.
NaijaAgroNet further gathered that BioFISA which is a Finland and Southern Africa Partnership Programme to Strengthen NEPAD/SANBio currently covers eight research and development projects in 12 Southern African countries in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe.


Yinka Awosanya/LS
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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Bioenergy investors invade Africa, tackles food security

Head of NEPAD Energy Programme, Professor Mosad Elmissiry

A two-day bioenergy symposium brought together the experts and bio-energy investors to Johannesburg city in South Africa to deliberate on exploration of the continent’s resources by bioenergy industry for better energy and food security.
The bioenergy symposium hosted by the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) discussed ways of tapping into Africa’s resources in a bid to produce clean energy fuels.
The Energy Programme Head, at NEPAD, Prof. Mosad Elmissiry said NEPAD’ objective is to drive bioenergy programmatic activities and see real results that NEPAD is a result-oriented organisation.
The symposium also sees to the review of conditions, criteria and operation model to set-up Incubator Fund.
Also speaking about the outcome of the symposium, the Project Team leader of BizClim, Gavin Maxwell said Africa needs a solution that encourages enterprise and rewards work.
“This needs both public and private investment harnessed and distributed through a trusted channel, and that is the idea role for the Bio-Enterprise Incubator Fund,” Gavin explained.
He added that as BizClim is a European Union Project providing technical assistance for improving the business climate in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean, it has the interest of Africa at heart to be part of the symposium.
NEPAD boss, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki told participants to think radically on how to forge strong partnerships which could tackle developmental challenges in the continent as NEPAD’s role is to ensure the implementations of decisions are taken on energy.
Equally commenting, Ms. Nomfundo Mthembu of Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), says “Their approach is commendable as it involves a wide variety of delegates from the Bioenergy community. Unlike other development approaches, this approach is a “bottom-up” approach which is mostly guaranteed to achieve a higher level of success.”


Yinka Awosanya/LS

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